Peanut and leafy vegetable harvester



April 1951 w. e. CROSS 2,550,332

' PEANUT AND LEAFY VEGETABLE HARVESTER Filed Jan. '12, 1948 V 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. VV/LL/AAZ G CROSS ATTORNEYS April 24, 1951 w. G, @055 2,550,332

PEANUT AND LEAFY VEGETABLE HARVESTER Filed Jan. 12, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 5? WLL/AM G Caoss ATTORNEYS supports |2 suitably strengthened by supporting cross frame members where necessary. The frame I is provided with rear wheels l3 carried by an axle l4 suitably journalled in the frame, and front wheels l5 which may be carried by mechanism for adjusting the height of the front end of the apparatus, to be described. The frame It! may be provided with a driver's seat l6, and a towbar connection bolted at |8 to one of the cross frame members for purposes of towing the apparatus, it being understood that if desired, power means, not shown, may be mounted on the frame for operation and movement of the apparatus, as for example a. gasoline motor.

As the harvester apparatus advances along a *row of plants to be harvested, the stems and tops of the plants are guided into the front of cutting blades 2| welded or otherwise secured to the guide bars l9, whereby only the central portions of the plants enter the harvesting mechanism of the invention. 7

1 Runners and other laterally extending vines either on or justbelow the surface of the soil are severed by cutter mechanisms shown as a knife edge 22 convenientl mounted on each of the forward wheels l5, which penetrate the soil to a depth necessary to accomplish this purads 4. mechanism proper. Plants may be assisted into the throat zone of the two converging belts 23 by means of small arms or teeth 31 formed on the peripheries of the initial rollers 24.

As shown best in Figure 3, the pickup belts 23 are carried across successive rollers 24 onto main pulleys 38 journalled in the frame If) across tensioning pulleys 39 onto guide pulleys 40 and back over the rollers 24. It will be noted that the pickup belts 23 are so guided that the initial travel of the belts 23 is in a plane horizontal to the ground and at approximately the same elevation as the guide bars l9, whereby the selected portions of the plant vines and stems pass into the throat zone and are seized .by the belts.

'As pointed out heretofore, the pickup belts 23 may be drivenby means of a power connection pose. In certain instances, it may be more convenient to position the cutter mechanism 22 on the frame in the same general location but independently of the front wheels l5.

s The plant tops, thus segregated and bunched by the cutting blades, pass into a pickup-mechanism comprising two opposed endless belts 23 which converge inwardly upon each other in the form of a throat, joining under resilient pressure in back to back relationship to grasp the plant tops. As shown in Figure '7, each endless pickup belt 23 is carried upon a plurality of rollers 24 positioned between two longitudinal frame members 25 and 2B rigidly joined at intervals along their lengths by I members 21. The rollers 24 are rotatably mounted in pairs upon upper and lower slide bars 28 and 29 rigidly secured by a cross piece 30, the slide bars fitting between 'gibs 3| formed on the frame members 25 and 26 for reciprocation laterally thereof. A bar 32 runs parallel to the frame members 25 and 26, being rigidly secured thereto by pins 33. Each bar 32 is formed with a plurality of apertures 34 along its length, to receive slidably one end of pins 35 which are fixedly secured at the other end to the cross piece 30 of the slide bars 28 and 29. Each pin 35 carries a spring 36 seated upon the bar 32 and exerting a constant inward pressure on each pair of associated rollers 24, thus pressing each of the opposed pickup belts 23 inwardly of the respective opposed frame members 25 and 26. Thus, it will appear that the plants being harvested are grasped positively and secured under spring pressure between the pickup belts 23 as the plants pass through the throat formed by the converging portions of the two belts 23 at the front endof the apparatus, into the conveyorwith the harvester wheels, to be described, or by a separate power source such as a gasoline engine, not shown. However, for best results, it is preferred that the lineal speed of operation of the belts 23 be exactly equal to the speed of forward movement of the harvester. along the ground, so that thebelts 23 will be approximately stationary with respect to the plants which are guided into it, at the time of contact. Thus, the plants are secured initially by the belts 23 under spring pressure, prior to vertical displacement of the plants in the ground.

As .the peanut plants are secured by the pickup belts 23, the direction of travel of the belts 23 is modified from the horizontal plane upwardly, exerting a vertical or pulling force on the plants. Simultaneously, a horizontal cutting. blade 38 secured to the frame I0 passes beneath the peanut. plants cutting off. the tap root which is allowed to remain in the soil for fertilizing purposes. 'The plant with its associated peanut crop is then easily withdrawn from the ground by the belts 23 and passes up the inclined portion of the belts.

' The invention further provides a novel mechanism for effecting separation of the plants from encrusted earth and other loosely associated debris, as the plants pass up and rearwardly on the: inclined portion of the path of travel of the pickup belts 23. This is accomplished by means of two opposed shaker bars indicated generally. at 40 and shown in detail in Figure 6, a shaker bar being located below and generally parallel to each inclined belt 23. Each shaker bar 40 comprises a frame 4| formed of steel rod joined by rigid cross bars 42, the frame being movable laterally and longitudinally with relation to the peanuts suspended from the pickup belts 23 as they are carried up the inclined path. Actuation of each shaker bar 40 is accomplished by a bell crank 43 rotatably journalled at 44 on the longitudinal supports 25 and 26, having an extension 45 on the lower end pivotally secured at 46 to a fixed arm 41 on the frame 4|. One .bell crank 43 is provided at each end of the frame 4|, the two cranks being joined for simultaneous movement bya shaft 48 pivotally secured thereto at 49. A coil spring 50 is secured at either end to the frame member 26 and extends around an outer rod 5| of the frame 4|, exerting a constant force drawing each of the opposed frames 4| inwardly toward each other. Once the shaker bars 40 are displaced outwardly by operation of the bell cranks 43 and released, the springs 50 have the effect of snapping the shaker bars 40 inwardly to strike the suspended masses of peanuts, roots and dirt sharply.

The mechanism fordisplacing the two shaker barsi fli-outwardlv inc udesam operatingrredfl Qnir ne end; thetshaft:fifiiisnrovidediwitha the: upper? arnlillev 13e 01FD0Wer: connection. inuaagmannentm g. 16064152 is; be: scribed; Y tuated-alterna ly; tor fie te a: slow outward; disr- As ritvenpnnectiom-fon perating the harv ter: place ent an udden release; f: each. f. the: 6s is shown inFigureii. Aipower takeoff p lleyfl-k; shakenbars il;- operatingeachflshaker banin is secured to the axle l4 and a belhcom nection provided over an idler pulley finerdriven quiredrf or a-single plant tOgtITBzYEISQ; the; i, pulley 1 6 and, a, driven shaft, H.- actua-ting agear pickup belt run 23: i t drive shownat m. The-gear drive Hi-is. providedc Theshaken rods 521 are; operatedzby lostpmojglOi with. power takeofis l9 driving--- thev two power: tion; linkages including." cam assemblies; 53; fit' ha s 54 actuat et main P p. belt pu ers-x dato power; shafts which alsogcarryvthex 38: The driven shaft ll-also carriesapulley; 80s ain:pulleys1 3&suDDOrting theeunperi-reachi. attheother end connected by, a belt Bl with the; eachwf-the-pi-ckup belts Each; cam; wheel pulley 13-.over, two idler rollers-82, forpur-- sembly 53;;includesra plate; 55 kevedrtqth 153' poses. of driving the wheel63. V spective shaft EA-for-rOtatiOmblra eollanfi The The collector rake: 65 receives, cleansed plants; nlatezfitrcarries;aininlfilrcausedrtc;revolveatza; from. the wheel 63, and sv supp rt d" on: the. fixeehradius around-the; centenof; the 1 plate; 55;, harvester frame'by a shaftz85 .journalled .inbars; An arm 58 is pivotally secured at one end tolthe; 83=and 84. Therake-SB maybe dropped as shown. P13 3575 and;,a,t the; other endrto" the shaker, rod 2m. todischarge-a load of. plants.v by manipulation,. of. 52518371594, The platefifi isgfurgtherrprfivided:wiithi a.- handbrake 86 positionedconveniently bythe; ablock pin-fill,of;such,heig-htasxtoacaitch:thezarm operator and connected to the rake by a rod 8.111 58,;as:;it. pivotsonthepin; 51:; Asythep plate; 555 and, a conventional release linkage. rotates, the pin;59'ongtheishaker;rodi zjs caught: Referring to Figure 1, meansv are providedjfor, by; the; block pin 6.0;. a-no1;is.-:revolved;v ,out the; 2Eitlifting. the front. endofthe-harvester. from the cent.er--.rofgthe -cam.assembly. Ajs .thecenterrline; ground, suniciently' to. r ise thetap root. cutting;

' of; the arm; 58' becomesiparallel with; the; center; blade, 38' from. penetrating the. ground. atv the linezofa the-attachedshakerrrod fizaazdeadcenterz; ndcf; a row. of eanut. plants. ToJacconmlism p sitionzisreached, and;thegmaximum:travehand: this, the front wheels [5. arecarried" uponflshaft's.a outward, displacementlofr' the; shaker bari' wg by; 3:03 88., received in housings .89 welded; or otherwise, meansgof the bell cranks-43is,accomp1isl1ed. As; securedtoframe supports 93' andj.9 j A,crank 91; therrotation-iof; the plate: 551v proceeds; the; pivot. havingttwo arms. 93 isrotatabl'v iOurnalled'tQthe, maintain; is carried, beyond; theicenterglineofrthe; frame at 94,, the extremities of the, arms, being, shaker; rod: 52, and; the arm, 58, which new ro;-- secured, with aball and socketconnectionlfifi'to, tatesfreely onthepin aljiniadvanceof thelzblocls: thewheel shafts 88., Abrakepedalfisfi andja hand; pin; '69: is; advanced; under: the; action; of. the brakeelare providedto rock-thecrank 92;,which springs: 50 which snap the shaker, bars 4B is,normally, urged downwardly by two tension, abruptly, inwardly against the, peanut plants; springsfldeachanchored at one endon the, framew Thus; each, arm 5.8..of: thetwo .cam .-.mechanismsl andonthe. other endto oneofjthe. arms. 93. Der 532. provided, alternately. movesv apnroximaten in pre sion ofthe foot pedal. .6.fr'ces the shaftsfibi'; 180 in free travel to the position shown inEi-gr downwardly, complementing the, force, of the, ureqlfli, Eachcam assembly, 53 is operated 180 springs 98,-,to. draw. the; framework. of;Tthe .h,ar out of phase with the associated cam assembly, vester upwardly, withdrawing the horizqnta jcllti whereby intermittent operation of' the shaker tingblade 38.? from theground. Whenit is debars isaccomplished. Excessive overtravel of the Siredlto place the, blade 38! inthe, ground; th e arm 53 is prevented by a bumper mechanism 6] operator draws back onthe handbrake. 9],,lift-g. secured on the frame member 26'; which the end inglthevarms 93 against theaction ofthe. springs,T of the arm- 58. strikesr after a. fullrelease stroke 98;. and drawing, the, wheel shafts. 88.1upvvardly,, is completed. The bumpers Gimay be madeof, wherebythe front. endof the harvester framejs, hard rubber or other similar, material, and dropped; lowering the knife into the ground; preferablymay be eccentricallypivoted: so that Once' engaged. in the earth,.the knifeSS-I ,is so; repeated blows of the arms, 58 cause therbumpers biased as. to retain ,theharvester frameinloweredj, 6;]:to rotate-slowly, in order, to equalize wear. positionandknife.inthe ground against theacr Asshown, the right hand cam assembly 53 tion, of the springs 98, until. the. knife 38.1 is, operates in clockwise direction and the left hand forcibly withdrawn again by. depression of; the; cam;assembly operates incounterclockwisedifoot'pedal 9,6,,

rection, inaccordance with the directionofdrive It willbe observedthat the, presentinvention of the power shafts 54. provides, a.mark 1y. effective. agricultural. harr- As the dirt free. plants-reach the top of the vesting, machine which. is simpleto construct; inclined portion of the belts,.23.,they pass tlt rough andlfoolproof" in, operation. Matting. of weeds; guides 62 which serve. to position the plants as and,vines such,aswould, clog, the apparatus; in... they-are released by the belts. 23., As bestshewn use, iseffectively eliminated, Roots. of plants, in Figure 5, a plant discharge mechanism is probeing harvested which have, valuable, fertilizing, Vided comprising a wheel 63 composed of fingers prop r are f n the around w thou low- 64 of different lengths, designed to grasp the n the harv s pr ss, the r ots also nplants as they leave the pickup belts 23 and contributing to the elimination of soil erosion. The vey them to a collector 65 at the rear of the apprinciples of the inv i n are p l rly appliparatus. The wheel 63 is carried on a shaft 66 cable for use in connection with the harvesting journalled in housings 61 supported on arms 68 of peanut plants, and for this reason, the invenpivotally secured to the frame at 69 and having 70 tion has been described in connection therewith. extending arms HI joined by a cross bar H. The However, the invention is equally adaptable for bar H may be secured to the frame by a spring use with the harvesting of other vegetables such 12, providing a resilient mounting for the wheel as carrots, beets, turnips and the like, as well 63,providing a flexibility desirable to eliminate as leafy vegetables growing above the ground. the jamming of plants in the discharge mecha- While the invention has been described with reference to the specific structures shown in the drawings, obvious modifications thereof withinwheeled frame having supporting front and rear Wheels, for movement over a row of plants, guide members extending forwardly of the frame for separating laterally extending portions of the plants therefrom, vertical cutting blades above the guides for severing laterally extending vines and debris from the plants above the surface of the soil, vertical'cutting mechanism on the front wheels of the frame penetrating the soil to cut lateral surface and subsurface vines and debris, pickup belts on the frame for receiving plants from the guides and withdrawing plants from the soil, and a horizontal unitary cutting blade on the frame comprising a fixed bar for insertion beneath the ground surface to out plant roots at the moment of withdrawal by the pickup belts. 2. A plant harvestin apparatus comprising a frame having supporting front and rear wheels for movement over a row of plants, guide members extending forwardly of the frame and having outwardly flared members extending rearwardly for separating laterally extending portions of the plants therefrom, vertical cutting blades above the guides for severing laterally extending vines and debris from the plants above the surface of the soil, vertical cutting mechanism on the front wheels of the frame penetrating the soil to cut lateral surface and subsurface vines and debris, pickup belts on the frame for receiving plants from the guides and withdrawing plants from the soil, and a horizontal unitary cutting blade on the frame comprising a fixed bar for insertion beneath the ground surface to cut plant roots at the moment of withdrawal by the pickup belts.

1 3. A plant harvesting apparatus comprising a frame having supporting front and rear wheels for movement over a row of plants, guide members extending forwardly of the frame for separating laterally extending portions of the plants therefrom, vertical cutting blades above the guides for severing laterally extending vines and debris from the plants above the surface of the soil, vertical cutting mechanism on the front wheels of the frame penetrating the soil to cut lateral surface and subsurface vines and debris,

pickup belts on the frame for receiving plants 4. A plant harvesting apparatus'comprising a frame having supporting front and rear wheels for movement over a row of plants, guide members extending forwardly of the frame for separating laterally extending portions of the plants therefrom, vertical cutting blades above the guides for severing laterally extending vines and debris from the plants above the surface of the soil, Vertical cutting mechanism on thefront wheels of the frame penetrating the soil to cut lateral surface and subsurface vines and debris, pickup belts on the frame for receivin plants from the guides and withdrawing plants from the soil, and a horizontal unitary cutting blade positioned below the frame and rearward of the vertical cutting blades comprising a fixed bar for insertion beneath the ground surface to cut plant roots at the moment of withdrawal by the pickup belts.

5. A plant harvesting apparatus comprising a frame having supporting front and rear wheels for movement over a row of plants, guide members extending forwardly of the frame for separating laterally extending portions of the plants therefrom, said guides converging inwardly from front to rear to forma throat, vertical cutting blades above the guides for severin laterally extending vines and debris from the plants above the surface of the soil, vertical cutting mechanism on the front wheels of the frame penetrating the soil to cut lateral surface and subsurface vines and debris, pickup belts on the frame for receiving plants from the throat of the guides and withdrawing plants from the soil, and a horizontal unitary cutting blade on the frame comprising a fixed bar for insertion beneath the ground surface to cut plant roots at the moment of withdrawal by the pickup belts, said cutter mechanism being positioned forward of the horizontal unitary cutting blad below said throat.

. WILLIAM GREEN CROSS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 776,174 Dixon Nov. 29, 1904 924,905 Hollenbeck et al. June 15, 1909 989,106 Arbuthnot Apr. 11, 1911 1,646,004 Beckman Oct. 18, 1927 1,883,666 Flintjer Oct. 18, 1932 2,247,293 Flintjer June 24, 1941 2,297,065 McLendon Sept. 29, 1942 2,468,276 Sorenson Apr. 16, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 21,828 Great Britain 1906 118,073 Australia Feb. 10, 1944 

